Concert Reading of Musical SSA Plays Joe's Pub, 8/14

On August, 14th at 11:30PM, a concert reading of the new musical SSA (Ass Backwards) will be presented at Joe's Pub (425 Lafayette Street).

Ass Backwards, a new musical with music and lyrics by Nick Blaemire and book by James Gardiner, "tells the story of four best friends who return to their old high school football field a year after they've graduated, and try to pick up where they left off. What begins as a night of reminiscing and pranks quickly turns into an emotional journey that tests the limits of their friendship, and their willingness to admitthat they've changed," state press notes.  "With a searing script set to a brutally honest, heartfelt score influenced by pop, rock, folk, and soul, this story is universal to anyone who has or is about to go through the transition of becoming an adult, and all the fears, trials, and discoveries that come with it."

The cast, under the direction of Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Putting It Together, Off Broadway's Under the Bridge and the West End's The Witches of Eastwick), will feature Ryan Watkinson (Movin' Out), Ryan Nealy, Jason Michael Snow and Danny Binstock. Jamie McGonnigal (World AIDS Day concerts) will present the one-night only concert reading in association with Schaeffer and the Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA.

Blaemire (music and lyrics), a recent Michigan graduate with a BFA in MT, is an actor who is currently on the New York stage as Mouse in If You Give A Mouse a Cookie.  He will also play Abraham in the upcoming national tour of Altar Boyz.  He has previously written a one-man musical called When I Grow Up... and is in the process of releasing a CD of pop songs entitled "Accentuated Features."

James Gardiner (book) just graduated from the U. of Maryland, with a BFA in Theatre. Currently playing Beethoven in the Regional Premiere of Dog Sees God at the Studio Theatre in DC, which he will follow with A Prayer for Owen Meany at Roundhouse, and Saving Aimee at the Signature Theatre. This is his first musical, although he has written many short plays and pieces of sketch comedy.

All seats for SSA are $20.  Please call 212-539-8778 between the hours of 11-5 daily to purchase tickets and make a table reservation for this show. Please note that no on-line tickets are available for this event. There is a two drink minimum or a twelve dollar food minimum per person. Seating or standing room will be on a first-come, first-served basis without table reservations.